Traumatised Rape Survivor Sent Back to Uganda
As many of you will know, on 20 January, Flavia Nambi, our dear friend and colleague, was removed to Uganda. We are deeply upset and enraged at her inhumane treatment. We were in touch with her until the last minute when she called from the plane screaming and terrified.
Detained in Uganda
On arrival at Entebbe airport, Ms Nambi was held for eight hours. Officials demanded £200, an enormous sum in Uganda, to release her. We called on her dedicated MP, John McDonnell, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to intervene. Ms Nambi was eventually let go but how many other people returned by the UK government, are terrorised in this way? What happens to those without international support and no money to pay? A man from a local church who came to collect her was also detained and questioned for an hour.
Brief background
Ms Nambi had been living in the UK for eight years with her aunt, her only surviving relative. She was sent here by her grandmother (who has since died), after being gang raped by soldiers at age 24. In 2006 Ms Nambi won refugee status but the Home Office appealed. Ms Nambi’s ongoing trauma as a rape survivor, including suicidal tendencies, was not properly considered when her asylum claim was refused.
Protests at removal
Over 80 people from many different walks of life took time to try to stop Ms Nambi’s removal (see extracts of letters below). Some knew Ms Nambi as a friend or colleague from her voluntary work with Women Against Rape (WAR) and as a member of the All African Women’s Group (AAWG). Others came forward to help not knowing her personally but determined to oppose this injustice.
From the time Ms Nambi was detained, a core group of WAR members worked daily pursuing every option to stop her removal. We helped her solicitor with legal representations and at the last minute found a barrister ready to put in an out-of-office submission to the court. John McDonnell MP and his indomitable secretary Helen Lowder, battled with Phil Woolas MP, the Immigration Minister. AAWG volunteers kept in daily contact with Ms Nambi trying to alleviate her panic and distress. A young woman who had met Ms Nambi at a political meeting went to the airport to try to persuade the other passengers to object to her removal. As part of efforts to stop the removal in Nairobi and bring Ms Nambi back to the UK, her psychiatrist wrote a letter in the middle of the night about the grave risk of her being abandoned without help.
Situation in Uganda
We have managed to stay in regular contact with Ms Nambi. She appreciates deeply the support she got and frequently expresses her heartfelt thanks. She says that the thought of people’s love, concern and determination that she be safe, has kept her from her darkest thoughts.
However, she is in a dire situation. She has no secure accommodation, is severely depressed and confined to the house by the fear that she will be raped again. The anti-depressants she was taking are not available in Uganda and the forced withdrawal has had a noticeable impact on her mental health. Despite her efforts, she has not been able to get any psychiatric or other help to overcome her trauma as a rape survivor. Friends and a family member in the UK arranged temporary shelter and sent her a small amount of money.
There is no doubt that it is only because of this support that Ms Nambi has survived. The help the Home Office and courts claimed would be available to her in Uganda is in reality non-existent. We are helping Ms Nambi document this lack of help and are working with her on taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Detained in Uganda
On arrival at Entebbe airport, Ms Nambi was held for eight hours. Officials demanded £200, an enormous sum in Uganda, to release her. We called on her dedicated MP, John McDonnell, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to intervene. Ms Nambi was eventually let go but how many other people returned by the UK government, are terrorised in this way? What happens to those without international support and no money to pay? A man from a local church who came to collect her was also detained and questioned for an hour.
Brief background
Ms Nambi had been living in the UK for eight years with her aunt, her only surviving relative. She was sent here by her grandmother (who has since died), after being gang raped by soldiers at age 24. In 2006 Ms Nambi won refugee status but the Home Office appealed. Ms Nambi’s ongoing trauma as a rape survivor, including suicidal tendencies, was not properly considered when her asylum claim was refused.
Protests at removal
Over 80 people from many different walks of life took time to try to stop Ms Nambi’s removal (see extracts of letters below). Some knew Ms Nambi as a friend or colleague from her voluntary work with Women Against Rape (WAR) and as a member of the All African Women’s Group (AAWG). Others came forward to help not knowing her personally but determined to oppose this injustice.
From the time Ms Nambi was detained, a core group of WAR members worked daily pursuing every option to stop her removal. We helped her solicitor with legal representations and at the last minute found a barrister ready to put in an out-of-office submission to the court. John McDonnell MP and his indomitable secretary Helen Lowder, battled with Phil Woolas MP, the Immigration Minister. AAWG volunteers kept in daily contact with Ms Nambi trying to alleviate her panic and distress. A young woman who had met Ms Nambi at a political meeting went to the airport to try to persuade the other passengers to object to her removal. As part of efforts to stop the removal in Nairobi and bring Ms Nambi back to the UK, her psychiatrist wrote a letter in the middle of the night about the grave risk of her being abandoned without help.
Situation in Uganda
We have managed to stay in regular contact with Ms Nambi. She appreciates deeply the support she got and frequently expresses her heartfelt thanks. She says that the thought of people’s love, concern and determination that she be safe, has kept her from her darkest thoughts.
However, she is in a dire situation. She has no secure accommodation, is severely depressed and confined to the house by the fear that she will be raped again. The anti-depressants she was taking are not available in Uganda and the forced withdrawal has had a noticeable impact on her mental health. Despite her efforts, she has not been able to get any psychiatric or other help to overcome her trauma as a rape survivor. Friends and a family member in the UK arranged temporary shelter and sent her a small amount of money.
There is no doubt that it is only because of this support that Ms Nambi has survived. The help the Home Office and courts claimed would be available to her in Uganda is in reality non-existent. We are helping Ms Nambi document this lack of help and are working with her on taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights.
EXTRACTS OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT
“Why would you possibly consider it acceptable that a fellow human being who has survived such a brutal ordeal should be subjected to further ordeal by deporting her to a country where she has no surviving relatives? As a woman who survived a rape myself 40 years ago and who has had to live with the emotional consequences ever since, I can't imagine how this so-called civilised country has a government capable of allowing this to happen.”
“It is inconceivable that the higher courts can rule that a suicidal rape survivor, with no support network, can safely internally relocate in Uganda.”
“ . . . one's life is precious and these people who come to our countries to seek a better life are often a big enrichment to our culture. We cannot close our eyes and pretend that everything is ok.”
“Flavia has already demonstrated her compassion and commitment to British society by giving her time and help to other women.”
“As someone who has been following political conflict in the region and its particular effects on women and girls, I consider that deportation would be fatally dangerous in this case.” Research Fellow, The Open University
“Hasn't this woman suffered enough? How terrified she must be at the thought of being returned to such a country as Uganda.”
“I do not want to see my taxes to fund appalling and degrading treatment of someone who needs help and counselling and the support of her only living relative.”
“While rape is not seen as an unforgiveable act of violence against women but is trivialised by a judiciary and bureaucracy which is still overwhelmingly male and with a regrettably old-fashioned male perspective, all women are demeaned and threatened.”
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